Rawnsley Park Station blog

Congratulations to Tim & Marg (Our Tour Guide and Front Office Manager) on their marriage. Sat August 30 brought the heaviest rain event for the winter at Old Wilpena Station with around an inch of rain. It caused a quick change of venue as the marquee floor was mud. The service moved to the reception venue at the Old Wilpena Woolshed. The day was relaxed and delightful as everyone was so pleased to see the much needed rain and the wet trees and landscape were a perfect photo background. The afternoon concluded with the most glorious, firey sunset over the Pound and ranges.

Flocks of Small Corellas (and Galahs) have begun arriving in their raucus hoardes for this years’ season of eating, nesting, breeding and screeching.

The countryside has pulled on it’s green winter coat against cold southerly winds and frosty mornings. Threatening clouds hover past from time to time but so far have been all bluff. We have had no real winter downpour yet, only a few mm here and there. Enough to germinate and tease this years crop of would be wild flowers, enough to rescue slightly more than half the wattle and senna bushes from their summer dessication but not quite enough to convince the survivors to burst into flower. Not enough to boost the springs or start the creeks flowing.

The birds and animals have taken the green carpet promise of spring fruitfulness at face value and are busy nesting and breeding. I hope their faith is rewarded. Several walkers enjoyng the seasonal splendor of the National Park have reported seeing lizards and snakes already venturing out to test the sunshine. Perhaps they are more attuned to the feebleness of this winter than their warm blooded cousins.

If Vivaldi was engaged to orchestrate this Winter season he would find it a doddle. He’d only need half the orchestra and he could leave out the storm sequence. He’d be done and dusted in a few days leaving him plenty of time to be out enjoying the fabulous scenery and contemplating the coming Spring.